From Thursday, April 28th, through Saturday, April 30th, the WeAreN2016 International Congress on Religious Freedom will be taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, NY.  The conference is sponsored by the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and In Defense of Christians. Its theme is: “Defending religious freedom and other human rights: Stopping mass atrocities against Christians and other believers.” The event’s description follows:

Christians account for 80% of persecuted minorities worldwide. ISIS/Daesh is
deliberately inflicting horrific life conditions on them, together with Yazidis, and other vulnerable minorities in the Middle East, intending to bring about their physical destruction.

The European Parliament, the Council of Europe, the United States Congress and US Department of State, as well as religious leaders from various faith traditions, have called ISIS/Daesh’s actions against Christians and other minorities genocide.

Today we are dismayed to see how in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world many of our brothers and sisters are persecuted, tortured and killed for their faith in Jesus. This too needs to be denounced: in this third world war, waged peacemeal, which we are now experiencing, a form of genocide – I insist on the word – is taking place, and it must end (Pope Francis).

In this event, we will hear from experts, witnesses, and victims of the atrocities and exodus suffered by Christians and other minorities in Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, and other countries.

Find more details, including the daily programs and featured speakers, here.